Wol,Thanks. The purpose of that graph is to show that there are great value telescopes in a moderate price bracket for people just starting out. Everyone who really gets into this hobby creates their own personal value/enjoyment curve beyond that point

Mike and all,
Please feel free to share, print, or create derivatives of this article. I wrote it to help newcomers, and I would love to see it shared. I just ask that you include a credit line and a link back to my site: http://soggyastronomer.com

thank you for this -well written- piece. I had no idea I could get a "good" telescope for under $400... I've always had a particular affection for "pickup trucks" Now I know why :-)yes, i'm a total newb.

kd4pbs, I certainly think there is a lot more that could be covered, including many other types of scopes, but I wanted to keep it short enough to be readable and provide a good foundation for others to build their understanding on.